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R v Cresswell [2019] NZDC 24045

Published 05 August 2020

Sentencing — operating a motor vehicle in a race causing death — operating a motor vehicle in a race causing injury — death of passengers — road rage — prolonged bad driving. The defendant appeared for sentence after pleading guilty to two charges of operating a motor vehicle in a race causing death and one of operating a motor vehicle in a race causing injury. He had taken exception to another car in a fit of competitive road rage and chased it after it passed him, speeding and passing other vehicles. The three passengers in the defendant's car begged him to stop but he ignored them. Two of the passengers were killed when the defendant lost control of the vehicle and crashed. The Judge imposed a sentence of four years and 10 months' imprisonment for the lead charges of causing death and two years for causing injury, to be served concurrently (at the same time). Judgment Date: 28 November 2019.